Hitchin RFC fell to a 29-10 defeat at Finchley after playing a large part of the game with 13 men took its toll.

The visitors were on the back foot for much of Saturday's first half, but their defence held firm until late into the opening period when a maul was driven over the line for the first points.

Hitchin went down to 14 men following what was judged to be a high tackle, and when Finchley again formed a maul on the 5m line, which was judged to be collapsed, this resulted in a penalty try and a further card at half-time.

With limited possession in the first half and 13 men on the field for the second period, Hitchin were still able to largely shut down any threat from their opponents as they slowed the game down well. However, another try was conceded through tiring bodies, failing to make a tackle.

Hitchin eventually got one on the board, with James Bolter picking from the base of a ruck and driving over.

Finchley answered with further tries, before Marcus Goss dotted down Hitchin’s final try of the game, capitalising on a fine cross-field kick and hitting the finishing yards at pace.